Peter Davis, Tumut, NSW

Tree Box
Mahogany, southern myrtle
410 x 90 x 220

Materials:
Main Body: solid mahogany block as main timber with Southern myrtle as tree structure.
Method of Construction:
The box was designed and drawn using CorelDraw. Producing full-size vector drawings. These were transferred to mahogany block. The full outline was cut on a bandsaw using a 1/8 14tpi blade. The tree foliage was cut using the same blade to replace the corresponding mahogany parts which were discarded. The drawers were then cut into the myrtle sections and the front sections of these were discarded. The drawer fronts were then cut to fit the drawer bodies. The base mahogany tree trunk was hand shaped using a Dremel. The individual drawers were then shaped to suit the trunk, and drawer fronts fitted to drawer blocks. Each drawer is held closed by internal magnetic catches and are prevented from complete withdrawal by brass pins installed before the drawer front.
Glue: Weldbond
Finish:
Timber was sealed using nitrocellulose lacquer, hand rubbed with U-Beaut Ultra Shine. Then several, again hand rubbed, coats of Gilly Stephensons Polish. I tried for a high polish on the tree trunk and branches and matt finish on the foliage for contrast.
Concept:
I wanted to make a different style of bandsaw box. By attempting to use contrasting timbers I could accentuate the gnarled tree trunk and its branches against the softer timber of the foliage. Usually on bandsaw boxes the cut and drawer fit gaps are obvious and tend to spoil the effect. This was eliminated by the close fitting drawer fronts and allowing part of the branches to act as draw pulls. By using the separate myrtle foliage sections to accurately follow the original mahogany base the whole structure retains its original shape.
This was a satisfying project although the desire to be different at times taxed my ingenuity.

Photos: Peter Davis